Learning GIS Programming

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Having some competence in programming has become a critical requirement for many geospatial positions. The majority of GIS analyst level positions require some expertise in programming and application development. So which languages should you learn for GIS programming? Python is a popular scripting language in the GIS arena, especially for those wanting to work with ESRI desktop products. Learning Python is the way to go for scripting and creating tools inside of the ArcGIS framework. C# is another recommended programming language that is relatively easy and intuitive to learn. Learning .NET will also allow you to customize ArcGIS. Using VBA is on the decline and ESRI will no longer support VBA beyond ArcGIS 10 (Users who have custom functionality built using VBA should actively plan strategies to rewrite their applications using a supported development language such as Python, VB.NET, or C# so their applications continue to be operational and supported in future releases of ArcGIS.).

For web-based applications development,learn HTML, javascript, and CSS as a baseline. Java, PHP, and ASP.NET are additional programming languages for more advance web development.

Where to get started? Learning the basic concepts of programming is very important. From there, move onto a specific programming language. Below is a guide to finding online resources and books to help you learn programming.

Do you have a recommendation on learning programming for GIS? Leave your tip or resource link in the comment section.

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Kristina Jacob, a professional photographer and GIS professional, captured some moments from the 2015 Esri User Conference. The annual conference is held in San Diego each year and brings thousands of attendees interesting in learning more about Esri and GIS. (Please note, all photos are provided courtesy of Kristina Jacob […]

Don’t have a school near you offering GIS? If you don’t live near a college or university offering GIS coursework, distance learning can be a valuable way to learn GIS skills and software programs online. Find schools offering GIS distance learning coursework via internet-based classes in the field for certificate […]

The North American Cartographic Information Society and the FixWikiMaps Project are organizing the first ever MapLift from August 28th through September 4th this year. MapLift is a program to identify and fix bad, outdated, or incomplete maps on Wikipedia. Volunteers are being solicited to help with the program. Those interested can signup via the MapLift signup […]

Got MS Excel? Need a simple map? A little known tool in older versions of Microsoft’s Excel is the ability to create simple maps from tabular data. You can create simple chloropeth, chart and dot density maps using data organized by country, state or region.

An open source application by definition is software that you can freely access and modify the source code for. Open source projects typically are worked on by a community of volunteer programmers. Open source GIS programs are based on different base programming languages. Three main groups of open source GIS […]

GIS is a technological field that incorporates geographical features with tabular data in order to map, analyze, and assess real-world problems. The key word to this technology is Geography – this means that some portion of the data is spatial. In other words, data that is in some way referenced to locations on the earth

There is a huge amount of untapped geographic information stored within Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. With over one billion users of the popular spreadsheet software, that is a lot of data waiting to be mapped out. That said, the capability of mapping out that geographic data doesn’t necessarily need to be done through an external desktop GIS software application. There are a few solutions on the market that provide both free and cost-based mapping solutions that operate directly within Excel.

There are a few online options to learn GIS for free. Take advantage of resources that provide you access to free courses from some of the world’s best universities and institutions. Learn GIS on your own or supplement your existing geospatial education with these free resources.

Introduction to GIS

Start by reading What is GIS for an introduction to Geographic Information Systems.

Geospatial Resources

GIS Book Pick

The Look of Maps: An Examination of Cartographic Design is a cartographic classic by Arthur H. Robinson originally published in 1952. The book was based on Robinson’s doctoral research “which investigated the relationship between science and art in cartography and the resultant refinement of graphic techniques in mapmaking to present dynamic geographic information.”